As part of USM08, Melbourne's central city square comes alive with an Extensive outdoor exhibition that explores the diverse local infrastructure of urban screens, utilized to create the atmosphere of a lively modern public space. USM08: Connected Communities is a free public multimedia exhibition exploring the influence of digital moving images in public spaces utilizing the infrastructure of Federation Square and temporary LED screens, in selected regional Australian cities.

 

The exhibition is a six-day program that experiments with the programming of a wide range of cultural content, suitable for urban screens. USM08 presents film screenings, an artistic short film program, interactive art, audiovisual performances, projections, VJ sets, live streamings and public remote talks.

 

The international program includes e.g. specific artistic night an morning screenings, considering the issue of light and sound pollution, a special local indigenous program, futuristic films such as Spielberg’s Minority Report or visual thought provoking films such as Koyaanisqatsi as well as interactive screen-based projects including Falling Times – a participatory, news translation machine based on the universal language of signs; Seed – whereby people receive a 'seed' via their mobile phone that they can grow into a tree on the big screen; and MobiSpray - an application that allow visitors to digitally spray paint the architectural façade, StalkShow – a screen backback performance, dealing with the threat of insecurity and isolation in public space or Reflections, a real-time documentary about our emotional connection to water and urban screens experience.

 

USM08 has invited Melbourne-based festivals and their creative communities to share the platform of USM08 to explore ways of inspiring the city to modernise the use of urban screens. Selected highlights from partner events such as the New York based Streaming Museum, Art at the Heart from Alice Springs and Blinkenlights Stereoscope from Toronto will be broadcast live as part of the Joint Broadcasting program.

 

All the info you need is on: http://www.urbanscreens08.net contact: info@urbanscreens.net USM08 is initiated by the International Urban Screen Association and hosted by Fed Square Pty Ltd. The multimedia program is produced with the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, the conference developed in cooperation with Melbourne University.